New avian flu outbreaks in Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Vietnam (2)
Three more avian flu outbreaks have been recorded in the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong, according to the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
A/H5N1 avian flu outbreaks were found at two farms in Ea Rop and Ea Tmot communes in Ea Sup district in Dak Lak province, with more than 2,200 ducks culled.
Another was detected at four farms in Duc Xuyen commune, Krong No district, Dak Nong province on May 3, leading to 250 poultry and 1,800 ducks being destroyed.
So far, Vietnam has discovered seven A/H5N1 outbreaks in 11 farms in five provinces of Cao Bang, Vinh Long, Quang Ninh, Dak Lak and Dak Nong in the last three weeks.
The Department also warned of high risk of infection of new avian flu virus strains, such as A/H7N9, A/H5N2, and A/H5N8 to Vietnam via illegal transport of poultry, particularly in northern border provinces and other provinces prone to poultry smuggling.
It urged localities to be proactive in preventing avian influenza and to strengthen their supervision to detect and handle outbreaks.
Source: VNA Date: 2017-05-11
Chinese rice trials promise solution to African food shortages
Large harvests of Chinese rice planted in Africa have raised hopes on the continent of greater grain yields to combat food shortages, a Chinese scientist has said.
"Trial plantings of quality Chinese crop varieties in Africa have shown promising results," Wang Qingfeng, director of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center in Kenya, said at a news briefing in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Monday.
Wang, who is also deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Wuhan Botanical Garden, said more than a dozen varieties have been planted in African countries, including Kenya. At least three suit the local soil and water conditions will be chosen for production, he said.
Hybrid rice planted in Kenya has yielded an average 6,000 to 7,500 kilograms per hectare, while the average yield of local rice is about 1,500 kg per hectare, he said.
China has helped African nations when their grain harvests have been affected by drought, but what the research center is doing represents a change to this aid strategy, Wang said.
The center, which was opened in September at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, focuses on biodiversity protection, remote resources sensing, microbiology, and the promotion of modern agricultural practices.
It covers 4,300 square meters and comprises a botanical garden, state-of-the-art laboratories, herbaria, greenhouses, administration offices, and conference and accommodation facilities.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences supports its management and has donated equipment worth more than $2.2 million.
Source: China Daily Date: 2017-05-11
Scottish salmon graces China dining tables
China has a fast-growing appetite for fresh and smoked salmon, but Scotland's fish farmers have been struggling to keep up with demand from the lucrative market.
Scotland is one of the world's major suppliers of farmed salmon, but the industry's growth was recently hampered by sea lice infestations that led to a drop in production. Sea lice are a parasite that latches onto fish, seriously affecting their growth.
Figures from the United Kingdom's HM Revenue and Customs showed the export volume of salmon to China fell from around 11 million kilograms in 2015 to 8 million kg last year, something the industry attributed to the sea lice outbreak. In 2014, some 13 million kg of the pink-fleshed fish were shipped to the world's second-largest economy.
Despite the fall in exports to China, the value of the industry remained high. In 2016, the value of salmon exports was around 52 million pounds ($67 million). In the previous year, it was 53 million pounds.
Beijing first allowed imports of Scottish salmon in 2011.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organization, said: "Sea lice are nothing new, they exist in the wild and climate change is contributing to the spread. The industry has invested tens of millions of pounds on research and development of new techniques and equipment.
"I'm confident we are on top of the issue and will be able to supply really high-quality, healthy fish to the Chinese market," Landsburgh added.
Landsburgh attributed the fall in exports entirely to the early harvest.
"China likes larger fish, around 7 kg, but there was an early harvest last year in order to provide healthy and high-quality salmon, which resulted in smaller fish. That is why exports to China dipped a bit in 2016."
But Landsburgh expects business to pick up this year and anticipates increased productivity in the years to come.
JD.com Inc, one of the largest e-commerce operators in China, said a majority of Chinese consumers are willing to buy fresh products online, and seafood products are among the most popular categories. Shrimp, fish and other seafood are quite well-received, especially those who come from the inland regions.
Du Ni, a 27-year-old office worker in Beijing, said: "I like salmon, it is really fresh and tasty. I sometimes buy imported salmon from supermarkets, and at other times eat it at restaurants."
Source: China Daily Date: 2017-05-11
Guangzhou Wine Showcase
On May 8th a wine showcase was held in Guangzhou. Asian Agribusiness Consulting (AAC), representative of the South-Australian Agricultural Department, helped with the arrangements of the event. The showcase provided an excellent opportunity to introduce Australian wine to the Chinese Market.
An interesting presentation was held by Martin Hamilton-Smith, Australian MP, regarding current Chinese Australian collaboration and export of Australian wine to the People’s Republic of China.
A tasting event was held where people could enjoy some of the most popular Australian brands and receive more information about the different kinds of Australian wine.
AAC 2017-05-10
Zhanjiang helps Tibet grow tropical fruit
A truck loaded with 2,000 tree saplings of over 10 different varieties was sent to Tibet autonomous region from Zhanjiang in late April, for trial planting.
The plants travelled the 3,000-kilometer journey as the result of an agreement between Zhanjiang-based South Subtropical Crops Research Institute and the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences.
The two institutes aim to share germplasm resources used in the breeding and planting of crops.
South Subtropical Crops Research Institute is a non-profit organization under the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, committed to the research and development of subtropical plant breeding, cultivation, and storage.
According to institute's macadamia nuts research group leader Zeng Hui, it will be the first time that Tibet has attempted to plant macadamia nuts – which are usually grown in warmer environments.
Thanks to early research, Zayu village of Zayu county and Baibung village of Medog county in the southeastern part of Tibet seem to be good places for experimental plantations because of the mild and rainy climate.
Three experts from Zhanjiang worked together with local researchers to plant sweetsop, mango, dragon fruit and other rare and improved saplings, hoping that if successful it could improve agriculture system in the region.
Local farmers were also given guidance and taught new growing techniques so that they could take advantage of market gaps and make more money.
Source: China Daily Date: 2017-05-1
Vice Minister Qu Dongyu meets Uruguay’s Agricultural Minister Tabaré Aguerre
Vice Minister Qu Dongyu met Mr. Tabaré Aguerre, Uruguay’s Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), in Beijing on 9 May 2017.
Vice Minister Qu spoke highly of China-Uruguay agricultural cooperation. He noted that the two countries are highly complementary in agriculture, and thus enjoy great potential for future cooperation.
To further bilateral agricultural cooperation, Vice Minister Qu suggested:
(i) Giving full play to the role of China-Uruguay Joint Committee on Agriculture in steering bilateral cooperation projects in a pragmatic manner;
(ii) Continuing strengthening cooperation in agricultural science, technology and innovation, particularly in joint research and innovative technology in crop varieties improvement and livestock farming;
(iii) Boosting agricultural investment and trade cooperation; and
(iv) Prioritizing the project of China-Uruguay fisheries complex.
Mr. Tabaré Aguerre fully agreed with Vice Minister Qu and expressed the willingness to work with China to push forward practical cooperation in rice, soybean production, beef cattle, fisheries and other areas.
Source: Information Office, MOA Date: 2017-05-10
Premier Li visits villagers in Yellow River beach areas in Henan
With rain in the sky, Premier Li Keqiang visited villagers in the Yellow River beach areas in Fengqiu county, Xinxiang city of Central China’s Henan province, on May 8.
In an area with insufficient infrastructure, Premier Li visited the homes of villagers and asked about their daily life and their agricultural production issues. The village has been listed for evacuation, and the Premier said he hoped they could move into new homes as soon as possible.
Premier Li also visited a household that had moved from the Yellow River beach areas, with local government’s help, to Fengqiu.
Premier Li talked with local officials, asking about the subsidies and cost of relocation.
The resettlement could bring some real benefits to residents who moved from the Yellow River beach areas, Premier Li said.
Source: Xinhua News Agency Date: 2017-05-09
Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua visits Sri Lanka
Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua headed a Chinese delegation to Sri Lanka on 2-6 May 2017. He held talks with officials of the Ministry of Plantation Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka respectively. They exchanged views on strengthening agricultural and fisheries cooperation, and reached extensive consensus.
In his meeting with Hon. Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries, Vice Minister Chen stated that China and Sri Lanka have maintained friendly relations and a long history of agricultural cooperation. In recent years, bilateral trade in tea and aquatic products has kept growing, and business investment in agriculture has been progressing gradually. To further tap cooperation potential, Vice Minister Chen proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the following areas: firstly, increasing exchanges on agricultural policies for deepened understanding and smooth cooperation; secondly, strengthening cooperation in agricultural technology, particularly in drawing upon each other's strengths in tea varieties breeding, planting, processing and marketing; and thirdly, intensifying cooperation in agricultural trade and investment and creating platforms for cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
Mr. Dissanayake extended a welcome to Vice Minister Chen and thanked China for its support and assistance in economic and social development of Sri Lanka. He agreed with Vice Minister Chen and expressed the aspiration to cooperate with China in research, personnel training, mutual recognition of testing results of tea laboratories and agricultural trade.
Hon. Wasantha Aluvihare, State Minister of Agriculture of Sri Lanka, welcomed the Chinese delegation and expressed his appreciation to China for its efforts in training Sri Lankan agricultural experts and conducting investment and technical cooperation projects in Sri Lanka. He hoped that the Chinese side could provide support to Sri Lanka in seed, hybrid rice technology, agricultural machinery and personnel training.
Vice Minister Chen noted that China and Sri Lanka both attach great importance to agricultural development and have accumulated rich experience. China is willing to strengthen agricultural technology cooperation with Sri Lanka, especially in hybrid rice, and facilitate technical exchanges between agricultural research institutes from the two countries and the establishment of agricultural demonstration park. China will encourage Chinese enterprises to conduct training on agricultural machinery maintenance and technologies to promote application and extension. China will also increase exchanges on agricultural policies with Sri Lanka and intensify training for Sri Lankan technical personnel.
In the meeting with Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka, Vice Minister Chen stated that given solid foundation of bilateral fisheries cooperation, China is willing to deepen cooperation by promoting training cooperation between fishery institutes and sending Chinese experts to Sri Lanka to guide local fishery production. In addition, Vice Minister Chen suggested that the two sides cooperate in fishing, processing and logistics of aquatic products, and facilitate investment cooperation between enterprises. Mr. Amaraweera thanked China for its long-standing support in fisheries, especially in freshwater aquaculture, and looked forward to furthering cooperation with China in this regard.
During his stay in Sri Lanka, Vice Minister Chen visited the Tea Board, Tea Research Institute and Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, learned the latest agricultural development in Sri Lanka, and listened to comments and suggestions on strengthening cooperation.
Source:Information Office, MOA Date:m 2017-05-10
Li gets close look at China-made tractor
Premier Li Keqiang receives an introduction to the Zoomlion 230-horsepower tractor from the company's deputy director, Wang Jinfu, in Kaifeng, Henan province, on Monday. China previously depended on overseas technology for such products.
Premier Li Keqiang called on Monday for further efforts to drive agricultural modernization and manufacturing upgrades amid China's economic transformation.
Li, during his inspection tour in Central China's Henan province, visited an agricultural machinery manufacturing plant in Kaifeng and climbed aboard on a newly made tractor developed using domestic technology.
The premier had previously proposed developing high-powered tractors to achieve technological breakthrough.
Li also visited people living in a floodplain.
The tractor company recently designed and began making the farm tractor, which is powered by a 230-horsepower engine — a product that used to be dependent on overseas technology.
Wang Hongmei, the company's office director, said the tractors are eagerly awaited in Northeast China as well as the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where large-scale farming and deep plowing are common.
Li, boarding the tractor and learning in detail about its operation from Wang Jinfu, deputy director of Zoomlion, stressed that such technology upgrades should be more widely applied to agriculture modernization.
With almost all control panels inside the operator's cab, Wang explained that the tractor can be controlled with only one hand.
The application of big data as well as an internet platform also is used by the company for product information collection, as it also developed an internet monitoring platform for all of its machinery products across China.
Breakdown in any area of a machine will be monitored by the internet platform terminal, while such information and data platform are also used for Zoomlion sales.
The company has seen a consecutive increase in sales from January to April this year.
Henan province, located alongside the lower reaches of the Yellow River, has long relied on agricultural production.
On Monday, Li paid visits to several households in Lizhuang township along the Yellow River floodplain area, where in villages scattered in low-lying areas suffer frequent flooding. Li urged the relocation of these villages. The township has 18 villages undergoing such conditions.
Source: China Daily Date: 2017-05-09
Visiting Chinese delegation explores joint venture opportunities in Zimbabwe
HARARE — Zimbabwe and China's Zhejiang province on Friday signed two memorandum as the two countries push for more cooperation and fostering of joint ventures in sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, energy, health and finance.
Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa signed a Friendship Memorandum of Understanding with the Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress Wang Huizhong.
Secretary for Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Desire Sibanda signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Zhejiang) Wu Guiying, under which the Chinese will explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.
Wang is leading a high-powered delegation with more than 20 people from Zhejiang province which is exploring business opportunities with both the public and private sectors.
The delegation joined Zimbabwean government officials and the private sector for the Zimbabwe-China Zhejiang Investment Conference where they engaged with a view to establishing long term cooperation agreements.
"We expect them to invest in our economic blueprint Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation priority areas in our Special Economic Zones (SEZs)," Sibanda told Xinhua after the signing ceremony.
He told the delegation that the government had come up with highly competitive SEZs incentives such as flexible labor laws, tax free holidays, duty free importation of essential raw materials which are not locally available and relaxed immigration rules for investors.
Wu said Zimbabwe and China were highly complementary of each other and announced plans to establish an office in Harare to promote cooperation between the two.
"As long as we join hands with each other, I believe that our symposium will bring more opportunities," she said.
Chikukwa said that the memorandum she signed sought to foster greater friendship between the two provinces and boost cooperation in various sectors of the economy.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said he had once asked investors in Zhejiang why they were not investing in Zimbabwe and they had told him that they did not know much about the country.
"They always got negative information on Zimbabwe from the internet," he said, adding that it was time for China and Zimbabwe to transform their comparative advantages into fruitful cooperation.
Source: Xinhua Date:2017-05-08